The Kansas City Royals have reached an agreement with free agent right-handed closer Carlos Estevez on a two-year contract, according to multiple media reports Wednesday evening.
Estevez, an All-Star in 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, split last season between the Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies, who acquired him on July 27 ahead of the trade deadline last summer.
The contract is worth a reported $22 million, though the Royals are yet to confirm the deal.
Estevez, who turned 32 on Dec. 28, was a combined 4-5 with a 2.45 ERA, 26 saves, 12 walks and 50 strikeouts in 55 innings over 54 relief appearances last season.
He has a career 27-31 record with a 4.21 ERA, 82 saves, 161 walks and 440 strikeouts in 419 1/3 innings over 438 relief appearances for the Colorado Rockies (2016-17, 2019-22), Angels (2023-24) and Phillies (2024). He missed the 2018 season because of injuries.
Kansas City was 86-76 last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the American League wild-card round 2-0 before falling to the New York Yankees in the ALDS 3-1.
